Inspired by Neil Simon's early career experience as a junior writer for Your Show of Shows, the play focuses on Sid Caesar/Jackie Gleason-like Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953, and his staff, including Simon's alter-ego Lucas Brickman, who maintains a running commentary on the writing, fighting, and wacky antics which take place in the writers' room
Acting
Nathan Lane's volcanic, vulnerable Max Prince performance.
Writing
Simon at his most autobiographical and bitingly self-aware.
Production
Period-perfect writers' room chaos circa 1953.
Director
Richard Benjamin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Neil Simon originally wrote this as a stage play in 1993; the 2001 film adaptation kept most of the Broadway cast except Lane, who replaced original Max Prince Ron Silver.
Your Show of Shows actually employed Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Woody Allen—Simon's fictionalized writers' room barely exaggerates the real legendary chaos.
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